Fifty years of space exploration Foreword by Arthur C Clarke In October 1957 a metallic sphere the size of a basketball bleeped its way into orbit. It was called 'Sputnik'. From this modest beginning, an epic new adventure was born. In less than the span of a human lifetime we have explored the Moon and launched robot probes to Mars, Jupiter, Saturn and far beyond. Space explores the major themes of rocket exploration, past, present and future, and celebrates the first half-century of space exploration. Specially selected images recall an age when giant rockets were the last word in modernity, and silver-suited astronauts were household names. Now we are preparing for a historic return to the Moon in the coming decade, and making serious plans to explore Mars. What awaits us in the next 50 years of space exploration? Contents: From literature to launch day - Science fiction predicts rockets and space exploration The Heavens and the Earth - Experimental missiles and satellites inspire the politicians Selling the Space Age - Consumer culture absorbs the romance of rockets Red Star in Orbit - Russian triumphs and tragedies in orbit, and on earth Machine Ambassadors - Robot probes explore Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn The Way Ahead - Do we have a long-term future in space?